Report finds that homelessness is only referred to in 36% of council's health plans

In the report, Homeless Health Matters, it reveals that only 36% of councils make a reference to homeless people within their local health plans, reports Inside Housing.

The cost of healthcare for someone who is homeless is almost four times higher than for the average person. For a rough sleeper with a high level of need, the cost can be almost 20 times as much.

The report calls for early intervention for homeless people, which can drastically cut costs to health services.

Howard Sinclair, chief executive of St Mungo's Broadway, said: "Homelessness hurts. Homeless people have some of the highest levels of poor health within our society. We have launched this campaign Homeless Health Matters to demand action to improve the health of some of the most vulnerable. Local authorities have a duty to improve the health of all the people in their area, yet we have found that too often people are simply not getting the care they need. By signing up to our Homeless Health Charter, Health and Wellbeing Boards can start to plug the gaps, by including homeless people in their local health plans and they can really start tackling inequalities and improving people's health."

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